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Governors to “cool off” for five years before vying for Senate, MCA seats in proposed law

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A Bill has been introduced in the Senate seeking to amend the Constitution and the Elections Act to bar serving or former governors who leave office within the five years immediately preceding an election from contesting for seats in the Senate or county assemblies.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes to amend Articles 99 and 193 of the Constitution, as well as Sections 24 and 25 of the Elections Act (Cap 7, Laws of Kenya), to introduce new disqualifications and avert potential conflicts of interest by ensuring they do not sit in bodies meant to oversee them.

During the course of their duties, governors have to account to their respective county assemblies and the Senate for financial and administrative decisions.

The sponsor of the Bill, Kirinyaga Senator James Murango, argues that by imposing “a five-year cooling-off period”, the Bill aims to ensure that oversight institutions have sufficient time to complete inquiries into the conduct of former county bosses without undue influence.

“Allowing former governors to immediately transition into legislative roles within these same bodies would create a conflict of interest and potentially interfere with ongoing accountability processes,” he said.

The Bill, which was read a First Time in the Senate on March 26, 2026, comes at a time senators and governors are engaged in a fierce standoff centred on financial accountability and the management of public funds, resulting in near-physical face-offs and calls for the arrest of several county chiefs.

Governors have been boycotting hearings of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) over alleged extortion, intimidation and political witch-hunts orchestrated by some senators, who they claim demand millions of shillings to clear audit queries, turning oversight into a “pay-to-play” scheme.

Some governors have also questioned the validity of appearing to answer audit reports they believe are submitted outside timelines, arguing that they are being singled out for persecution.

The standoff escalated into physical tension when senators confronted Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit outside Parliament, a scene described as “hooliganism” by the Council of Governors (CoG).

The CoG has formally resolved to boycott CPAC sessions until their concerns regarding the conduct of specific committee members are addressed, although they have expressed willingness to appear before other committees.

The Senate responded by naming over 10 governors in a “list of shame” who failed to appear to answer audit queries regarding the expenditure of billions of shillings, with some senators calling for arrests and fines.

Speaker Amason Kingi dismissed the boycott, stating that “selective compliance” with the law is not permitted, with senators threatening severe action against non-compliant governors, including withholding funds for counties that fail to account for public money and declaring governors unfit to hold public office.

The standoff lends credence to the justification for the amendment, as governors are subject to oversight by the Senate and county assemblies during their tenure.

Audit reports prepared by the Office of the Auditor General are submitted to these bodies for scrutiny even after governors have left office.

“Barring former county governors from vying for elections will allow ongoing accountability processes related to the administration and financial management of counties to be completed,” Senator Murango said.

“Oversight bodies would have adequate time to inquire into matters arising from the tenure of a previous holder of the office of county governor without interference by the former governor, which is highly likely, particularly if the person is elected as a member of a county assembly or to the Senate.”

The senator further argues that the “cooling-off” period is necessary, as audit outcomes would help determine the suitability of a former county governor to hold any other elective position.

“Voters would have a reference point in making an informed choice on the candidate’s suitability for another elective office since all accountability processes would have been completed,” he added.

The Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights is expected to facilitate public participation on the proposals, pursuant to standing order 145 of the Senate Standing Orders.

The committee will take into account the views and recommendations of the public when it submits its report to the Senate.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2023, sponsored by Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera, sought to introduce similar measures proposed by Senator Murango, but was withdrawn.

Currently, there are two senators who served full terms as governors prior to their election to the Senate – Senator Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu County) and Senator Ali Roba (Mandera County)-STAR.

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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